/ub/ - Überhengst

>>4076
some other rando anons watching this thread but asking outside of here >What are the different kinds of shops out there?
I'm going to skip mechanic shops and other similar things, focusing on different kinds of manufacturing shops.

Lets take a glance at how resources move around for most steels, and other alloys.
Open pit mine -> steel mill/foundry -> distribution warehouse -> manufacturing shop -> [other warehouse likely, maybe two] -> retail store -> you
that's just a generic resource flow, there are many deviations to this of course, even at large scales, but it's still more or less what happens.

Steel mills take raw resources and work them over, adding precise amounts of each kind of material to mix into an alloy.
Foundry, or pattern shop, is used for casting large volumes of things, not uncommon to have 10% or sometimes higher rejection rate (because of voids in the castings). No material is wasted, it just gets melted back down and tried again.
Forge is where they take raw materials and either roll them (multiple times) or hammer them into a useful shape.

Heh, I had to do a little bit of internet searching on those, and even then it might not be quite right, as those are not things I interact with at all. It is the job of the metallurgist to make sure the correct alloy with the correct mechanical properties of the casting/forging/shaping thing it requires. Most of these things are defined standards such as cold rolled 1018 steel bars, a brake caliper casting used in cars, or a forged 7075 aluminum frame used for an AR15 rifle receiver.
Those kinds of shops tend to be really high volume, because it is easier to build that sort of equipment for higher volumes. Regardless of what kind of material processing is used, they all end up in a manufacturing shop somewhere, and in my hands to finish getting shaped into something useful.

In the machinist world, there are two main divisions: Job Shop and Production Shop.
There are deticated job shops or support job shops. Deticated job shops are pretty easy to find in the phone book listed under machine shops.
What I am calling support job shops are much more illusive. A large farm might have a lathe and a mill to fix farm equipment with. An electric motor repair company will have a small machine shop to repair bearing surfaces from the bearing that siezed up and melted. I've heard the navy will have a small machine shop on the larger ships to fix various things that might break. I've seen offset printer shops have their own machine shop to make various things to keep the high-volume printers going.

Production shops generally only make one kind of product, with small variations to that product. Sometimes a production shop will only utilize lathes and mills, but most of the time they use purpose-built equipment.
For example, machines making plastic sheets. These machines will likely be able to make plastic trash bags, but also able to make the thicker plastic sheets used to cover harvisted crops or as a sealed barrier under a house. Perhaps also the plastic wrap used for food as well as wrapping up pallets for shipping purposes.
The company making lighters, zippo, uses brass and a big stamping machine to form the outer shell of the lighter. I will bet that it is the same machine they used in WW2 making the same lighers.
Some production shops will only be making one kind of product, but with normal CNC mills or CNC lathes. For example a company selling pipelines to oil companies. They will have CNC lathes set up for turning the end and threading the pipe. Their entire shop will be optimized for offloading steel pipe from various trucks, storage, and moving the pipes into lathes.

[YouTube] Building the Steam Controller [Embed] - building the steam controller
Here you can see a typical modern production shop with lots of fancy deticated equipment designed and set up to make one product.

Most of the work I do is prototype these days, or sometimes making difficult-to-machine parts in a small production run on the order of hundreds or less.

Consider AirCrete(s) (foam plus cement, sometimes with additives).
Highly insulative.
There's also styrofoam additive making it like sticky sand.
The fiber mesh and other stuff gives alot of structural strength.

In this picture are two different kinds of edge-finders. One of them is $20 made by Brown&sharp in USA, the other $500 made by Haimer in Germany. Guess which one is more accurate?
The Brown&Sharp is more accurate by at least a factor of 5.
Why even bother having the Haimer? It can reach in places the other can not, is accurate enough most of the time, and is a bit faster to use.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Haimer and occasionally make fun of the guy who does. I personally never use it because I perfer to be as precise as possible.

Tradeoffs like this is exceptionally common in the machine shop. In order to make money, a really good understanding of tools and machines are needed. Sadly, this knowledge is dwindling because politics hate manufacturing, machining practices are not being pushed in college, and people don't like to work.

I'm sorry for not posting here more.
If anyone deserves this knowledge of power its you guys.

Being able to create a physical Aryanne in a time of need is a powerful beacon of hope to what remains of the free world.

THE FOLLOWING IS PROFESSIONAL LUMBER ADVICE. LUMBER AND THE RELEVANT EQUIPMENT CAN KILL YOU VERY EASILY. TAKE EVERY AVAILABLE SAFETY PRECAUTION

The first step in pulp product production - what you common folk call lumber - is to cut the goddamn tree down. Youre gonna want a sufficiently sized chainsaw as relates to the size of the tree. Plenty of ppl on youtube have done good 'how-to fall trees' and 'types of cuts' videos, check them out.

You will need: Safety glasses, hardhat, chainsaw chaps, ear plugs, gloves, boots, sufficient clothing (jeans and tshirt).

For simplicity's sake, 9/10 times youre gonna want to make a horizontal cut 1/2 of the way into the tree, and another cut below and at an angle (about 30deg) to meet with the horizontal cut. Knock that wedge out.
Next, align the saw with the 1st cut, on the other side of the tree. Slowly, make that cut WATCHING VERY CAREFULLY and pulling the saw away (in a pinch, leave it) and yourself as the tree begins to fall. If it stalls, you can continue, but err on the side of caution; its easier to make another, deeper cut than it is to not realize its falling and something bad happens. Safety first.
>Pic related, was unsafe one time. We'll get to that in the joinery portion

Next step is easy, clean the branches off with the chainsaw. Recommended to have a limbing saw in addition to the falling saw.

Next step - after a bit of hauling (I leave that to you) - brings us to the mill. Milling is simple, the machine makes a single horizontal cut at the level you set. When stripping the outside of a tree, youll want to cut off 1/2"-1" chunks; these boards are considered scrap, but later on Ill describe how to make cool shit with.
After about 3-4 cuts, rotate the log 90deg on the mill, to repeat the process on all 4 sides. Your objective is to square off or 'Cant' (industry term) the log, heretofore referred to AS a cant.
Once you've done that, its time to cut boards off.
When cutting boards, theres some important details that are industry standard.

>Ex: A 2x6 board purchased from hom4 depot will only be 1.75"×3.5". This is because in the industrial process, the starting board was 2"x6", however the finishing process (drying, planing, eased edges, etc) takes off a bit of material, leaving 1.75"x5.5".
So, if you're going for a box-store size board, dont sweat it, just go with basic measurements.
HOWEVER, you may come across clients who want a finished 2" thick tabletop, for example. As a rule of thumb, add 1/2" to whatever dimension needs refinement. That gives you 1/4" 'breathing/working' room to account for moisture loss during the drying process, as well as during the actual surfacing (planing, sanding, and finish).
Next, once you have your boards cut, youll want some paint and some joinery tape.
Joinery tape is those metal strips with a bunch of prongs on one side, intended to be nailed across 2 boards jointed together. You see them in barn rafters alot.
Thats not what we're using it for.
First, paint the ends of the board with latex, or some other form of thick, moisture resistent paint. You can get the fancy stuff designed exclusively for the ends of boards/logs, but meh. Regardless, paint the ends.
Next, tack the joinery tape on both sides of the boards.

When lumber dries, it tends to lose moisture MUCH faster through the ends, which causes cracks and splits in the ends of the board. This can be corrected for, but it means losing wood volume, and you dont want that since you probably have several hours invested in the wood already.
The paint acts as a moisture barrier, forcing the moisture through the sides of the board (rather than the ends), and the tape prevents the wood from splitting as it dries. It sounds like a pain in the ass (it is, ngl) but it produces a superior quality board, without need to fill or glue back together.

Next step brings us to drying. You can dry boards outside in a process of several months, OR you can rig a kiln.
Personally, I recommend getting an 8x20 storage container, painting the bitch black, putting it in Texas, and mounting a fresnel lens (big-ass magnifying glass) to the top. On a good hot day, that should get 'er up to ~140 degrees. With this setup, you can dry boards in a few weeks rather than a few months. Youll want a dehumidifier also, as the moisture will saturate the air and then return to the wood as the kiln cools at night.

Ta da, youve got wood. Stay tuned, we gonna make some shit.

>>4689
Bruh, did you actually lose the tip of your index?
Fuck

>>4690
Theres only 2 types of woodworkers. Those who have lost digits, and those who havent lost digits yet.
Seriously, I havent been able to properly check 'em for ages.

>>4689
F

>>4689
One of the things I've always wondered is where you can find the most local wood mill.
I have known several people with their own, but I can't imagine trying to find one after moving to a new place.

>that scar on the little finger
gnarly

>>4694
Band-saw mills (portable or fixed) are much more common these days, and alot of millers/sawyers have listings on faceberg. Also, check with any local tree services, I guarantee they know someone.

Whether milling or contracting (fully 60% of my income is from private subcontracting) the most valuable thing you can have is a reputation for being a solid, hard worker
Especially as things get more hairy with vaccines and mandates and shit, if you're out in the country you're within a 10 mile radius of prolly 5 ranches that need hard workers. And, when you do good work, they'll tell their friends.
Dont wanna do subcontracting? Neither do I, but you better if you wanna have the social connections you're gonna need to survive when supply chains shut down, and infrastructure begins to collapse.
Just finished a 3-day job where my cut was 1.5k for 1400' of 4-strand barb wire. Dont worry, Ill get back to playing with wood, this iz just some theory/philosophy and a bit of strategy.
Cuz rn, especially with everyone scared of covid, its near impossible to make a living with a private mill. But, if you can establish yourself as a hard worker and contractor - ideally with periodic fine wood products for sale - who also happens to have a mill, your reputation will precede you. Especially if you're the guy who's missing a finger tip. Literally, they call me pointless.

Heres a pic of a recently cut post-oak stump. You can see the initial cut on the right, with the drop-cut on the left (drop-cut being the cut that causes the tree to fall). The thin spiky section is what holds the log until it hits the ground and separates from the stump. You want this, as it helps to guide the log during the fall. NEVER CUT TREES DOWN IN HIGH WIND. Ask OSHA how many fatalities they have from people thinking that a breeze wont affect the dropping of trees.
Also, nrver drop trees without a spotter. By that I mean, never drop trees without someone watching everything going on, ready and waiting to grab ur ass bybthe collar and drag you away from getting killed.
This is NOT hyperbole. It is astonishingly easy to get yourself killed while felling logs. When felling trees, if the log grts hung up and wont fall cuz of another tree, they call those 'widow-makers'. That too isnt hyperbole. Please be safe.

>>4696
>Correction for angle
The wedge cut is on the north side, the drop cut is on the south side.

Ill have milling pics soon, but I got a project before I can implement my new setup. But thats okay, I got this much done, and its only lunchtime!

>>4720
>second pic
That's a big mixer anon...

>>4721
I sure as HELL ain't mixing 5 yards o concrete by hand!

>>4722
Probably not a good idea...

>>4723
The pad is 12'x18', ~5.5-6" thich, with 5" deep footings along the perimeter. The metal structure is Cattle fencing (cuz rebar is prohibitively expensive rn, as well as more rust-susceptible) running across the bottom, with scrap pieces running vertical along the footings.
This is to accommodate my mill, which is ~5'x16', leaving an area to remove, trim and paint the board-ends before running them into the kiln. The problem with portable mills is levelling (and relevelling) the bastards on soft ground, especially after heavy rainfall. NOW I can set it and forget it, and more than double our production, without cutting into contract work.
One thing I DIDNT appreciate when starting out is just how much organization, planning, configuring, reconfiguring, and development has gone into an already established company. But thats ok, by the time the weather starts to warm back up (its Texas, so early Feb) we will be running solid, with opportunities to further develop the business property in between jobs and such.

>>4724
>The problem with portable mills is levelling (and relevelling) the bastards on soft ground, especially after heavy rainfall.
I see now, you got me thinking on the logistics behind this

How often do you have to move the mills?

>>4725
It fluctuates. This time of year, maybe 2x a month; spring thru fall, anywhere from 6-12+ times a month, depending on clientele. It usually takes about 1/2 hour on soft, uneven, or off-level ground. The pad wont help for that, but it will allow us to get the mill set back up at our place in about 10 minutes with no need to check the level after rainfall. Plus, we can extend our hours of operation because the work area will be stable, safe, and clear of hazards and obstructions cutting a finger off amps one's safety-consciousness. Moreover, once we get a tin roof over it and a few light ballasts, we can run after dark, allowing us to concentrate as many operations in a day as possible, maximizing production and allowing us to get more ambitious with the number/intemsity of the jobs we seek and take on.
Its all super meta and boring details, but Im excited AF with the possibilities.
>pic related
the motherfucker who took my finger down

>>4726
Shoot!, i don't even know how i missed your post.

>The pad wont help for that, but it will allow us to get the mill set back up at our place in about 10 minutes with no need to check the level after rainfall
Right!, now i get it, i know nothing about this, so i was kind of confused before.

>Its all super meta and boring details
Nah, atleast it's pretty interesting to me, i am always curious about how the industry operates in different capacities.

>pic related the motherfucker who took my finger down
I did saw the other posts, fuck...

A few things about milling.

In order to maximize the usable wood from a log, you'll want to start with 4 full-length cuts as pictured (the flat parts). This will partially cant the log, making it more manageable for later setup. This method takes longer than just slabbing it out (routine horizontal cuts), but the result is a better product.
After flattening all sides a bit, you'll want to cut as thick of a chunk off the top and bottom, and set them aside. For me, thats about 6.5-7" (without scraping) thick, which later will be put back on and cut into quarter-sawn boards. Ill go into detail about quarter-sawing later, just know 'its better'. The vertical oriented boards in pic 1 are quarter-sawn (except thr corners,
Once you have the rounded chunks off, its just a matter of slabbing up the middle, determined by the purpose.
In pic 2, we are cutting to make an epoxy counter-top with a matching island.
Note: we NEED 3 pieces, but we cut 5.
Always cut more than you need. The most retarded-ass circumstances can foul an entire board, and theres no sense cutting into another log for one board of you can help it, especially given the amount of drying time that is necessary
In short, its always better to have more wood than you need, rather than less.

When milling, you'll want one of those painter blades that look like a giant spatula, for cleaning the sawdust off. Pretty much all portable bandsaw mills use water to cool and lubricate the blade (a dab of soap helps too), so the cut face will always be wet and caked with sawdust. Scrape that shit off, all of it, cuz that dust will mold and stain the surface of the wood. Its not the end of the world of it does, but to restore the surface you'll need to sand more surface than you may want to. The boards in #2 are cut to 1.75", to have a finished thickness of - quoting - 'anywhere between 1 and 1.5". We should only have to take a 1/4" off to finish it but I can always make the board thinner later, and unless no one likes you, there is no such thing as a board stretcher. So, erring on the side of caution is generally advisable, until you're at a point that calls for precise/finish cuts.

The type of sawing/board refers to the grain pattern of the board. If the board has vertical grain through its thickness, its quarter-sawn. If the grain is diagonal, its called rift or half sawn, and if the grain is horizontal through the thickness, its straight sawn.
Quarter-sawn is the strongest, most durable, and least susceptible to warping, flexing, expanding, etc. when wet. Quarter-sawn is the exclusive choice for doors, frames, flooring, etc for these and other reasons.
Half sawn wood is stronger than straight, but is.more susceptible to warping as it dries and is usually reserved for posts, furniture legs (especially when turning them on a lathe) and other pieces that are likely load-bearing in some capacity.
Lastly, there's straight cut. Basically, every construction grade board you will find at a lumber store (unless specially order) will be straight sawn.
Straight sawn boards are strongest along the length of the board, which is why theyre reserved almost exclusively for construction.

The bottom board from the cant will always be irregular. This is because as thickness is removed, the board expresses its elasticity more, and unless the mill has a completely flat deck (Ive never seen one), the ends will hang off the risers. The board pictured on the mill is 1.75" in the middle, but 2"+ on the sides. This can be brought to uniformity but it can be tricky, so until the job is done, consider that an 'emergency use' board, and plan so you dont have to use it.
Also, I do NOT recommend hydraulic/automatic mills. While they have dofferent settings for different wood types, and they unquestionably go faster than hand/crank-powered mills, there is ALOT of variance that can go into one tree vs. another.
Texas pine is ALOT denser than Pacific Nw pine, because of the increased sun and high levels of moisture. They take longer to dry, and theyre alot heavier and stronger than PacNw. Theyre also harder to cut through. Leaving the machine drive to a hydraulic.motor and a computer MIGHT get more cuts done in a shorter amount of time BUT it wears out the blades MUCH faster, causing curve in the cuts (very very bad) or outright failure of the blade. The machine cant compensate for knots either, whereas you can see and FEEL the density of the wood when its hand-driven.
Me? Id rather take 30 seconds/cut and get a superior product than 15/cut and have to reject boards because they have inconsistent thickness cuz I was in too much of a hurry. Take your time and go slow.

Well shit, wasnt expecting rain today. Oh well.
Look at that woodgrain! Isnt it gorgeous?
The darker parts are called spalting. Literally, it is the onset of decay in the wood. Its tricky to catch the wood before its really started to decay, but while spalting will downgrade (decrease commercial value) production lumber, its desirable (ideal, even) to woodworkers and crafters.

I like you, niggas, but I've been doing very similar shit for over a decade and never lost a finger.

>>5161
Its ninjas, and get back to me when you've been at it over 20 years

>>5162
or mayhaps he refers to the machining stuff.

>>5161
The hell does an accident have to do with anything? Plenty of accidents happen with lots of craftsmen of all varieties. Your statement means nothing in regards to both skill and relevance to the topic. Maybe show your own work to make a skill argument and contribute to the subject matter. Surely with that extra appendage and decade of experience you have some work to present.

>>5162
Apologies, based oldfag.
>>5164
>Plenty of accidents happen with lots of craftsmen of all varieties.
Indeed, they do. I've always put safety above all else and I'm lucky enough to be self-employed, so it's not like some faggot can coerce me into doing dumb shit that ends in mutilation.
>Maybe show your own work to make a skill argument and contribute to the subject matter.
I'm afraid you guys will have the Russians airstrike my position. I've seen what weaponized autism can do. There's no way to post my metal work without doxxing myself and posting my wood wouldn't do much unless you really like gazing at other men's wood.
Maybe I'll have something to contribute if I can get a milling machine or new welder, but there's nothing I could teach you that an old pro couldn't do better.
I don't want someone with the resources and autism calling my customers to tell them what a spectacular Nazi horsefucker I am.

>>5165
>I've always put safety above all else and I'm lucky enough to be self-employed, so it's not like some faggot can coerce me into doing dumb shit that ends in mutilation.
Thank you, I appreciate the qualification. It will come as no surprise that exhaustion, frustration, and working with an unusually small piece that contributed to the removal, but the main issue was that I wanted to be DONE for the day, and I let my safety practices lapse for a moment.
While Im clarifying, I should point out that a jointer doesnt cut digits off, it shaves them away away, layer by layer. And yet, even though the finger only made 'contact' for about .1 seconds, that was enough for about 30 rotations. It was gone before I even registered the occurrence. A mere fraction of a second, and Ill never be able to game the same again (my left-trigger/right-strafe finger is too short nao ~_~)
Fun fact, the experience felt like a mix of smacking the finger REALLY hard (but just impact, no pain) and then losing all circulation. Ngl, it was way milder than I had anticipated.
But to you and yours
>I've always put safety above all else
Good. Keep it that way, it only takes one time. Silver lining? Theres a saying around the shop now: "Thats the kind of thinking that cost me/ninjas a finger."

>>5165
>I don't want someone with the resources and autism calling my customers to tell them what a spectacular Nazi horsefucker I am.
the ones that stay will be much more loyal. Maybe you should tell/show them to weed out the shitlords you don't want to do business with anyway.
>There's no way to post my metal work without doxxing myself
That's why I don't post stuff that I've made over the years. Most of the stuff I make is pretty specialized and can likely be traced to two or three sources (including me) just based on the part and what it's used for.

>>4552
>aircrete
Just mix eggs into it. Or if you want to be /vx/, blood. Either rot quickly and release gas, foaming it up.
Doesn't do well for mortar, though, because it ruins repairability - mortar should always be weaker than the bricks it's binding so in a pinch you can remove and replace it, and the super-strong cement mortars you can get with eggs and pozzolana won't be removable.

>>4691
That's pretty accurate. There always comes the time when you think you're knowledgeable and experienced, get careless, don't follow the safety procedures, and boom! At least it's an opportunity to literally write the rules in blood.

>>5165
>unless you really like gazing at other men's wood
Ive been known no homo to admire other men's wood. Purely a professional gesture tho
>I don't want someone with the resources and autism calling my customers to tell them what a spectacular Nazi horsefucker I am
Ah, we differ in that regard, Im quite looking forward to someone trying. To qualify that, I have enough business that I can be choosy about who I do work for, and all of my current business contracts have already listened to more than one rant about the jews. Technically, my clients are as much friends as they are customers, so its not a traditionally 'professional' arrangement, but yeah. Come at me doxfags.
>>5266
>blood
Fukking based

Hey /ub/ ever had to clear a large plot of land in a short time? Dont have a brush hog?

Put a metal-cutting cirxular sawblade and put it on a weed eater. This thing is beefy enough to cut through up to 4" stumps in seconds. Quit trying the weed eater, you'll just break your line on sticks and shit.
When you do, it is advised that you hold the foregrip as normal, but with your operating hand, pull the weed eater so that it is in constant contact with the full length of your right arm. Then, lock the device against your hip.
This will give you an incredible amount of control, enough to compensate for any time the device kicks out so u dont cut ur toes off. heaven knows Ive already cut enough off already.
In this configuration, one can cut down rough, uneven, stick ridden, unkempt mess at just below the speed of standard weed eating.

To think about it.

>>6039
Those roads weren't subjected to cars, let alone lorries. Of course old timey roads handle old timey challenges better.

>>6039
>Without a single degree
Those roads were made by brilliant stonemasons and guildsmen who trained for their entire lives perfecting their crafts, many of which born into trade families with generations of familial experience.
It wasn't college, but it was an equivalent level of long-term training and education.

>>6081
Where's that from?
>>4034
You still alive, right?

>>6039
Boomer meme false equivalency is top tier.

>>6081
looks like the oil drain plug on a car engine... and either over tight, or somebody hit a rock or something, cracked the oil pan, and it finally broke with the next oil change. the oil drain plug is the lowest part, so plausible enough that it wasn't just over-tightened

Sorry guys I haven't been posting nearly as much as I'd like to. There are tons of machining things I'd like to cover, such as the different kinds of taps there are (plug, spiral point, hand, spiral flute, forming...), typical CNC lathe and mill commands, uncommon CNC machine programming practices, some pictures of some trashed tools from big mistakes that other people made that I collected and how to avoid doing such things yourself, and probably a lot more.
There just isn't enough time in the day
Thank you ninjas for helping the thread out too, pretty sure everyone (including me) learned a bunch from your hard-wood posting. Everyone likes looking at it I think.

This is based mastery, no doubt about it.

>>6103
>and either over tight, or somebody hit a rock or something, cracked the oil pan, and it finally broke with the next oil change
No way. That's the aftermath of a catastrophic engine failure and someone must've thought it would be funny to take a picture with the wrench on the drain plug. A grade 4.8 bolt would've broken off well before the oil pan.

>>6112
>That's the aftermath of a catastrophic engine failure
It might very well be that. The edges look like the result of an internal explosion tearing apart the pan in a thousand pieces.

>>6103
I'ma be perfectly honest with you. I left the site about a month ago, and am only here for the moment out of morbid curiosity.
If you're too busy to post, you're doing it right. Mlpol could have been alot of things, but it will never realize them because of the incompetence and duplicity of staff.
Wanna never amount to anything in life? Mlpol is a good place to make that happen. Nothing against ponies, but this place has been trash for a very long time, and I hope (you) specifically grow out of it. Peace.
[YouTube] Narcissists are users (continued) [Embed]

>>6124
>I left the site about a month ago
Well then, have well wishes and fortune your way, frien.